Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-24
THE JEWEL THAT JOHN
FOUND.
BY VINCENT BELL.

Bl VINCENT BEiaia.
II was about five minutes after the
second and last whistle had blown at
Darts shoe factory when Anna Velga
came running up the street, painting
and red Of face. John Dart, standing
on the steps talking with two strangers.
smiled as she came up, and said I'm
slightly surprised tones:
6You are late this morning Miss
Ve!ga, something never before known. u
"Yes, sir. ! am sorry, but l over
slept myself.n
"Up late last night-had beau, per-
haps?" suggested John, roguishly.
mo, sir" retorted Annie, promptly,
and rather snappishly, for, even,
though he was the nephew of William
Dart, the great shoe man, and the pros
pective heir to all his wealth, she con-
sidered he was taking a liberty, es-
pecially before strangers. Perhaps
pretty and prim little Annie had some
other reason, too, for resenting his re-
mark.
"Pretty girl" said one of the strang-
ers after she had passed.
"Yes," assented John, land about
the neatest, quickest girl ever in the
work-room," and then the stranger be-
gan talking again very earnestly, as be-
fore Annie came up the steps.
SWELL" said John, "of course you
may satisfy yourself, but 1 can tell you
beforehand, there is not one of our girls
whom we do not trust. 1t will take
you aboHt all day, for they live in all
from here, if you have to
search their rooms. AS uncle says ]
must go with you in that case; the
sooner it is over the better for me"
Then they all three went up stairs to
the girls workroom.
''Will those who stopped at Dingus
jewelry store last night on the way
home from work, please stand up?'
while John took down their names and
the number of their rooms and the de-
tectives watched each face keenly. Sc
far no one was disturbed by a guilty
conscience. After ascertaining beyond
a doubt that all who had been in the
store reported, John announced:
1--WE have received word that a valu
able amount of jewelry was stolen from
this firm last night at about the houl
you were there, therefore, suspicion ha'
fallen upon you, and each girl mus
allow her room to be searched if th'
goods are not previously found upol
her person."
So the search began. A quiet, trusty
girl, much older than the others, anC
who had not been with them the even
ing before, was appointed to conduc
the personal investigation in another
room. One after another left the worl
room to return in few minutes, de
clared innocent, until the officers wer'
satisfied none of the goods were at thu
factory.
"Now" said John, when the last gir
had returned, "Will each one of yol
give me your keys in turn, for | mus
accompany this officer in his searcl
while the other remains here"
"Not this morning." spoke up Anni
Velga, quickly, while the smart detec
tive felt the jewels in his grasp, SO tt
speak, and the reward in his pockets
John looked surprised-some said ht
turned trifle pale as he looked int
Annie's flushed, guilty face.
answered, gravely. "What difference
is it, Miss Annie?" +.
"None," answered Annie, hastily
but as John took her key, the detectiv,
thinking it best search her room a
once, instead of in her turn, she burs
out crying and seemed so broken dow
the remaining officer felt justified il
placing her under arrest.
John had visited Annie's room be
fore, just once, not many evenings be
fore. He had taken her book to rea(
and small basket of fruit, thinking
that as neat a way to begin his court
ship as any. He had thought, as b.
had left that evening, it was the pref
tiest, brightest room he had ever seen
far exceeding any in his uncle's grant
mansion. He had little thought tn
next time he climbed the stairs to room
No. 80, would be upon such a painful
errand. He could not believe swee
little Annie guilty until it was proven
yet he climbed the steps unwillingly
and with more unwilling fingers turnet
in the lock the key Annie had surren
dered. When the door was open, h
stood for moment irresolute. Th
room seemed the same, yet not tn
same either. Where, the evening h,
had called, pretty Japaneze screel
had stood, was now rather shabb,
though scrupulously clean little stove
and thereon skillet with few pota
toes left from the mornings meal; ant
dainty bed, with covers thrown bacl
and pillows airing, was drawn on
where had stood a small book cabine
he had particularly noticed. John re
assured himself he was in the righ
door by several little articles on tn,
walls, and while the busy detectiv,
was sdiving around in Annie's one trunk
and the bureau drawers looking for the
lost treasure, John was looking arounC
at this little jewel of room, q fary'.
paradise as it seemed TO him. Across
the foot of the bed was thrown daint,
night dress, to be sure, made of cheaI
muslin and trimmed in crochet lace
but John did not know the difference
between it and one of linen trimmed in
finest thread. Two small slippers
were set precisely under the bed anG
over stool by their side was o pair o
red stockings, turned wrong side out
as though to air. Indeed I am telling
the truth when tell it, that while the
detectives back was turned search.
ing Annie's small dish cupboard, John
quickly stuffed that pair of red stock.
ingS In his coat nOcketi Whv ba did